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Usui Reiki is one of the most popular courses I teach through Mayastar Academy Online Natural Healing & Spiritual Development Courses. It was the first course I began teaching 12 years ago when Mayastar was established and because whenever energy healing is mentioned with regard to its effectiveness (assisting cancer patients or for pain relief), it remains the most “well known” of the systems I teach. It’s probably the one that’s most tested and some medical health practices will refer people for Reiki Healing despite it being considered a bit “new age”. Similar prejudices come up as a reaction against natural healing practices – Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Reflexology for example.

The big difference with Reiki is that it’s accessible and safe for anyone to learn and use. I wouldn’t recommend anyone start trying acupuncture without significant training and experience. But energy healing systems like Reiki provide a structured and specific practice that is not invasive and can be easily taught.

The founder of Usui Reiki included the structured forms of hand position sequences, meditation techniques, symbols and methods for sending healing distantly as well as on the breath. It is a versatile system but it’s structure makes it uniquely useful for beginners because it helps to build confidence in energy work as you go. So your intuition develops without your conscious mind being unoccupied and restrictive.

People learn energy healing for all kinds of reasons. Some wish to learn to provide healing to others; perhaps to pets or family members. Some are looking for ways to develop their spiritual senses and find Reiki an excellent way to do this.

But increasingly, I teach students that are looking at alternative or complimentary therapies to improve their health. Balance their energy to resolve health problems or assist with conventional treatments they are already using.

One of the most significant implications for ill health is stress. We are six times more likely to develop schizophrenia if we live in a city than if we don’t. Modern life has its benefits but it comes with increases in stress experienced by doing things that have never been natural for people to do.

Another example is the blue light from backlit screens on our computers, games, phones and televisions can interrupt our production of melatonin. The hormone that makes us feel sleepy and allows us to sleep. Yet, many have televisions and computers in their bedrooms and use them to “wind down”. Over time we don’t really know how much additional stress to the system could accumulate through this change in sleep quality. But the fact is if we don’t properly our bodies can’t repair properly.

If we have too little sleep on a regular basis there are implications for our health on many levels. Ultimately, if you get less than six hours of sleep in one go regularly, your life expency is reduced. Your risk of heart problems, cognitive problems and problems with immine immune function are increased.

These kinds of stress are often completely ignored. We know that a stressful job or relationship can make us ill. We know what stress feels like. We know that sometimes natural life events may cause us stress and when these happen we tend to try to take care of ourselves – death, changing career, moving home – and many other big changes we will all face at one time or another, will cause stress that we need effective ways to deal with.

Usui Reiki obviously isn’t the only answer. Meditation and breathing exercises are also very good. Changing eating habits to avoid stimulants or sugar can have big effect. Avoiding falling into the trap of relying on detrimental habits like drinking alcohol (which is considered by most people to be an “acceptable” way to deal with stress despite its negative effects on health), is important.

Change in life is stressful to some extent even in the most adaptable and well adjusted people. And change is constant. So the way we deal with experiences of stress needs to be something we make accessible to ourselves consciously and use regularly.

Daily exercise has been shown in clinical trials to be more effective in treating depression than many medications that are prescribed by medical professionals. That certainly doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take them! But it does mean we can make choices to help ourselves and that’s empowering.

Reiki is an excellent option for relaxation, self healing and boosting our immune function. It it useful in relieving stress and the symptoms of stress which can become chronic and debilitating.

My view is that a holistic approach is the best approach. Don’t rule out modern medicine. But do consider your diet and lifestyle. Look at the options you can take and weigh up the negative impact of some “acceptable” habits against the options that don’t come with a negative impact. What’s considered “normal” isn’t always what is natural or right.

It can be hard to break out of habits of thinking and behaviour we have been taught and which are reinforced by those around us. Sometimes being the odd one out means choosing what works for us as individuals despite our peers or negative views of individuality that are quite prevalent in some people’s lives.

If your friends think Reiki is kookie – the domain of hippies and vegans, don’t let it stop you trying it out. Lead by example. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Especially if trying something old isn’t working!

For more information about Reiki and Energy Healing. Please see the links below: